Blind Low Vision NZ staff exodus

AUCKLAND: More than 100 staff have left one of the country’s biggest charities in the past 18 months amid claims of bullying and service cuts.

Two former staff said many of their colleagues left due to poor culture at the Blind Low Vision NZ.

Another former staff member said he had never experienced such a low level of morale.

This came weeks after it was reported the organisation was launching an independent ‘‘culture review’’ because of complaints about the treatment of clients and employees.

A former staff member claimed to be aware of 98 resignations, redundancies or terminations between December 2019 and the end of April this year.

Since then, former staff said the organisation’s counsellors had also been made redundant in the latest of a series of restructuring.

The charity reported employing 200 fulltime and 50 parttime staff at the end of June 2020 compared with 210 fulltime and 115 parttime staff the previous year.

Blind Low Vision NZ chief executive John Mulka said he was unable to comment to ‘‘preserve the integrity of the independent review’’ but would welcome the opportunity to provide a full picture when it had concluded.

Judy Small, chairwoman of its governing body, Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, said there had been a ‘‘period of change’’ as the organisation adapted to a new strategic direction launched last year.

‘‘The RNZFB board [members] are confident that this culture review will give staff the opportunity to help shape a new culture that fits the new direction, and brings all staff along on the journey so that they are empowered to continue to drive positive change in the community,’’ she said.

A former staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they believed there was now a poor culture which left staff fearful of speaking up or even asking questions.

She was among a group of about 50 staff who called on union Etu late last year to prepare and submit a letter to the board saying staff did not feel safe at work and highlighted issues in the organisation’s culture.

She said there was an ‘‘amazing workplace culture’’ when she landed her dream job at the charity but believed that no longer existed.

‘‘That has just all been destroyed. It’s just been horrendous.’’

The woman believed staff were picked on in front of colleagues and she felt people became fearful of raising concerns about the level of service being provided to clients, for fear of retaliation.

Another former staff member who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said aside from the redundancies, she believed many people left because they could no longer tolerate the atmosphere.

She said there were instances where lawyers had been involved in how employment ended.

She said there was a bullying culture that made people too afraid to voice concerns about client welfare for fear of being fired. She said the constant fear felt like when she was coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship.

The women also questioned Blind Low Vision NZ’s latest decision to outsource counselling to an employee assistance programme where counsellors were not trained in the nuances of vision loss. —